Enhanced golf club performance via friction stir processing

a golf club and stir processing technology, applied in the field of golf club fabrication, can solve problems such as reducing momentum transfer efficiency, and achieve the effects of enhancing the hardness of at least a portion of the golf club face, improving the performance of the golf club, and enhancing the hardness of the fa

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-03-31
TELEDYNE LICENSING
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] This invention provides an improved golf club and a method for improving the performance of a golf club via friction stir processing (FSP) to enhance the hardness of at least a portion of the golf club face. Enhanced face hardness tends to increase the momentum transfer efficiency between the club and the ball so as to provide increased loft, increased distance, and better control over the final location of the ball. Friction stir processing also tends to remove voids and defects in the metal that might otherwise decrease momentum transfer efficiency. The friction stir processed face is also more resistant to wear, which tends to improve golfing consistency and extend the lifetime of the club. Another embodiment of the invention is a practice club that provides performance feedback to the golfer in terms of a more solid feel when the ball is struck within a friction stir processed sweet spot.

Problems solved by technology

Friction stir processing also tends to remove voids and defects in the metal that might otherwise decrease momentum transfer efficiency.

Method used

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  • Enhanced golf club performance via friction stir processing
  • Enhanced golf club performance via friction stir processing
  • Enhanced golf club performance via friction stir processing

Examples

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Effect test

example 1

[0023] One of the friction stir processed club heads was cross-section for microscopic examination and hardness testing. FIG. 1 shows an optical micrograph of the cross-section, which illustrates the fine-grained microstructure produced in the surface region by the FSP treatment. FIG. 2 shows the Rockwell “C” hardness values measured at various distances from the surface (hardness indents shown in FIG. 1) using a Knoop hardness tester with a 500 g load. The FSP treatment increased the hardness from about 26 for the bulk material to more than 40 at the face surface.

example 2

[0024] The intact friction stir processed (FSP) six iron was compared to a stock (unprocessed) six iron of the same type by an objective evaluator, who is a professional golf club fitter and expert golfer. This evaluator reported that balls hit with the FSP iron tended to attain higher loft and somewhat greater distance compared to those hit with the stock six iron. The evaluator also reported that the FSP six iron hit balls with a more solid feel.

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Abstract

Friction stir processing (FSP) provides a hardened golf club face that more efficiently transfers momentum between the golf club and the ball, increasing the launch velocity so as to provide increased loft (for a given distance traveled by the ball). The FSP hardened face is also more resistant to wear so that the golf club provides more consistent performance and lasts longer. A practice club having a friction stir processed sweet spot on the face may enable the golfer to feel whether the ball has been hit by the sweet spot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention is concerned with fabrication of golf clubs, and in particular with surface treatment of metallic golf club heads to improve performance. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Golf club irons are generally designed to propel a golf ball through a trajectory for which the increase in the ball height (i.e., loft) for a given distance traveled is maximized. In this case, the ball impacts the ground at a relatively large angle so that it tends to roll less and remain close to the point of ground impact, which enables the golfer to exercise better control over the final location of the ball. For a high-quality golf club, properly swung, the ball should go “straight”, i.e., its trajectory should define an arc lying in a vertical plane. This requires that horizontal spin be minimized so that the ball does not substantially hook to the left or slice to the right of the “straight” trajectory. On the ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A63B53/04A63B59/00B23K20/12
CPCA63B53/04A63B2059/0007A63B53/047B23K20/1275B23K20/122A63B60/004A63B2102/32
Inventor MAHONEY, MURRAY W.
Owner TELEDYNE LICENSING
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